LIVE OAK COUNTY – On Monday, Erynn Studlar, 11, donated $100 of her own money—funds she had been saving since early childhood—to a special auction designed to raise funds for a new ambulance for Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

Erynn, a George West ISD student, is known for her animated public presentations regarding a set of dinosaur bones discovered by her great-grandfather, Sidney Fischer Sr., in 1958.

But she also has career aspirations in the field of medicine and truly believes in helping others.

“I took out all but $20 from my account,” Erynn said. “I’ve had that money since I was little, but I know this new ambulance will help a lot of other kids.”

This event, the “South Texas Cattlemen’s RoundUp” is a special fundraiser held every summer in cities throughout Driscoll’s 31-county service area.

More than 100 people showed up at the Live Oak Livestock Auction facility Monday afternoon to participate.

Local 4-H clubs, Future Farmers of America chapters, county extension agents and businesses all donate homemade baked goods, agricultural and ranching products, arts and crafts and various other items.

Parker Lee, 12, also a GWISD student, was equally enthusiastic about the fundraiser.

“This is such a good cause,” Parker said. “It’s fun to do and you really get to help people—help them get better equipment that can make the difference between living and dying.”

Also present at the event was Lynne Sixta, a spokesperson for Driscoll Children’s Hospital. She said as many as 107 items were donated to the auction.

“This is a terrific fundraiser, and it’s great to see the local 4-H kids in Live Oak County helping other kids,” Sixta said. “And 100 percent of the proceedings go toward the purchase of that ambulance.”

The ambulance is expected to be state of the art, Sixta said.

“We have a fleet of four and some have over 250,000 miles on it—so we really need a new one,” she said. “We do several of these throughout South Texas. Hopefully, we will be able to raise the funds for the new ambulance.”

Anyone who missed the auction can still make a donation by going to www.driscollchildrens.org and clicking on South Texas Cattlemen’s RoundUp. Other ways are to call Driscoll at (361) 694-6401 or call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at (361) 449-1703.

Young Erynn said she understands the importance of the ambulance because the field of medicine means quite a bit to her.

“I want to be a nurse for the Wounded Warrior Project when I get older,” she said with a bright smile. “When I retire I want to go to work for Driscoll.”

Ben Tinsley is a reporter for The Progress newspaper in Three Rivers. He can be contacted by email at theprogress@mysoutex.com or by phone at 361-786-3022. Tinsley can also be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BenTinsley, Google at http://plus.google.com/+BenTinsley or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ben.tinsley.12.